TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Composer Lin Yi-chen (林沂蓁) will return to Taiwan to lead the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) on Saturday (May 4) and Sunday (May 5).
According to an NTSO press release, Lin will bring the sounds of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and French composer Maurice Ravel to Kaohsiung and Taichung. She will perform Sibelius’ “Ode to Finland,” Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite,” and other pieces, per CNA.
Commenting on the arrangements, Lin said, “Sibelius’ orchestration technique is very unique, and he’s especially good at accentuating deep bass. Ravel is a magician of sound, able to let the audience hear the process of the orchestra’s sound from dark to bright.”
Addressing the issue of gender, Lin was quoted in the press release as saying there are many movies featuring female conductors and many symphonies are also being led by female conductors. “But I hope that when I am seen, it is because of my strength rather than my gender,” she commented.
NTSO Director Liu Suan-yung (劉玄詠) said this year marks the first time Lin will lead the symphony. “It is a pleasure to see more young Taiwanese conductors shine on the world stage,” the director said.
Born and raised in Taipei, Lin emigrated to Vienna, Austria, where she studied piano and violin. Under the mentorship of Zubin Mehta, Bernard Haitink, and David Zinman, she became a conductor.
Saturday’s concert is to be held at National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying), while Sunday’s will be held at the NTSO Concert Hall in Taichung. More information can be found here.
